Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 17, 1935.

J. A. MACREADY/ REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 192.8

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z6 1 EL 71 r Z a A w s- A 5:: :1 .4 6:3 52 A :3 A S AC: A C: A :3 s A 5: A. :3 u A :13 A C: 5 A :2 A A: A Z A :2 5 A E A 5::s 4 S A :12 x A C: A S A A :2. s

Dec. 17, 1935. J. A. MACREADY 2,024,297

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 17,1935.

J. A. MACREADY V REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1928 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 17, .1935

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS John A. Macready,Dayton, Ohio, asslgnor, by

mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, a corporation ofDelaware Application September 28, 1928, Serial No. 808,928

14 Claims. (01. 62-141) This invention relates to refrigeratingapparatus and more particularly to a mechanical cooler of the type usedprincipally for cooling water on draft. 2'

An object of this invention is to provide a water cooler of the typeused principally for cooling water on draft which cooler is providedwith an auxiliary compartment for cooling other substances such asbottled beverages and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanical water coolercapable of cooling other substances in addition to the water on draft.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a water cooler embodying features ofthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical view partly in section-and partly in elevation ofthe water cooler shown in.

Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 taken transversely thereto;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the cover ofthe water cooler shown in Figs. 1 to 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical elevation of a slightly modified water coolerembodying features of this invention;

Fig. 6 is a vertical view in elevation of a portion of a water coolersimilar to that shown in Fig. 5 but somewhat modified;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-1 ofFig. 9, with the front of the cabinet included;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 88 ofFig. 9, with the front of the cabinet included;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a portion of the cabinet of the type shownin Fig. 6 with the front panel removed;

Fig. 10 is-a cross-section taken along the line Ill-l of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view somewhat enlarged takenalong the line H of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 12 is a detailed vertical elevation with parts 1 'broken away of aportion of the cabinet shown in .Fig. 6.

A mechanical water cooler of the type used principally for cooling wateron draft, and comprising features of this invention, may comprise asubstantially upright cabinet generally gag.

ignated as 20. It may be provided with an insulated section, generallydesignated as 2 I. which section may preferably extend substantiallyacross said cabinet. The section 2| may include a water cooling zone 22and a bottle, or beverage, cooling zone 23. Preferably one or both ofsaid zones 22 and 23 may extend substantially across the insulatedsection 2 I. A heat conducting metal piece 24 may be placed between saidzones. The heat conducting capacity of the metal piece 24 may besufliclent, taken in its relation with the fluids in contact therewith,to maintain a substantially equal temperature between the zones 22 and23. Ordinarily a temperature gradient of 5 or 6 F. may be consideredwithin the meaning of substantially equal temperatures so that adifference in temperature of 5 or 6 F. between zones 22 and 23 may comewithin the scope of this invention for reasons hereafter to be morefully explained. 7

Cooling means may be provided in at least one of the zones, and in thisparticular embodiment a body of evaporated refrigerant may be placed inat least one of said zones. As a specific em bodiment, a substantiallycylindrical float valve controlled evaporator 25 may be placed in thezone 22. Thus, in this particular embodiment, the wall of the evaporator25 is a different wall from the heat conducting metal piece 24, but athermal contact is still maintained since the piece 24 continuesvertically upward to form the side 26 of the water cooling zone 22. Theheat transfering capacity of the piece 24 together with the fluids incontact therewith is sufiicient to maintain the temperatures of thezones 22 and 23 substantially equal.

The evaporator 25 may be supplied with liquid refrigerant from arefrigerant liquefying unit placed, for instance, in the compartment 30of the cabinet 20. The compartment 30 together with the insulatedsection 2i may be ,so placed as to form a substantially straight uprightcabinet as shown in the drawings. The refrigerant liquefying unit :mayboot the character described in the application of John A. Macready forRefrigerating apparatus, Serial No. 308,927 filed Sept. 28, 1928, andshown in Fig. 13 of this application. The refrigerating system,including evaporator 25 and the refrigerant liquefying unit may be alsosimilar to the application of John A. Macready for Refrigeratingapparatus, Serial No. 296,239, filed July 30,1928.

It has been found that water on draft ordinarily is most palatable at atemperature of about 50 F. This temperatin'e may be slightly varied tomeet difl'erent conditions. For instance, water to be supplied at afactory ordinarily should be at about 55 F. in order to prevent crampsfrom being produced by water chilled to too low a temperature where itis liable to be drunk in great quantities by persons overheated byrelatively great physical effort, whereas water which is supplied inofllcebuildings and the like may be a few degrees cooler than 50 F.

Whichever temperature is selected, the bottle or beverage cooling zone23 may be substantially the same or slightly cooler or warmer than 50"F. and this temperature will be found sufficiently cold for ordinaryrefrigerating purposes to which the cabinet may be put, such as thecooling of bottled beverages, which should be at about the sametemperature as the cooled water, and articles of similar character. Thusit is seen that when the bottle cooling zone 23 is kept substantially atthe same temperature as the most palatable temperature of the water ondraft, that the bottle cooling zone will also be very satisfactory forthe type of refrigerating purposes to which the water cooler may be put.It has been found that when the refrigerant in the evaporator 25 is S02that a very satisfactory operating pressure may be between 2 and 12pounds, so that an automatic switch, controlling the operation of therefrigerant liquefying unit in accordance with the pressures in theevaporated refrigerant line, may be placed to operate within thesepressures and a very satisfactory temperature may be maintained withinthe zones 22 and 23. 0

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the cabinet may comprise a skeleton metalframework made of corner vertical angle irons joined horizontally at thetop by horizontal angle irons 4i and joined at the bottom by'angle ironssimilar to angle irons 4i, not shown. On top of the angle irons 4i maybe placed a rectangular wooden frame 42. The water cooling zone maycomprise a substantially boxlike water tank formed by the bottom metalpiece 24 joined integrally with the sides 28, 27, 28 and 28a to form asubstantially rectangular tank. The last named sides may be providedwith outwardly extending flanges 29 which are adapted to rest on thewooden frame 42, preferably in a notch 43 formed in the frame 42. Theevaporator 25 may be of the float valve controlled type of the characterdisclosed in the application Serial No. 296,-

239 or m the patent to R. G. Osborn, No. 1,556,708

patented October 13, 1925 with the exception that the dependent loopsmay be omitted so as to form a substantially cylindrical spun brassboiler. On top of the flange 29, a sub-cover 44 may be placed, and ifdesired, agasket 45 may be positioned between the sub-cover 44 and theflange. An upper cover 46 may rest on top of the cabinet. The subcover44 may be provided with an upwardly di- 4 rected cylindrical flange 41adapted to telescope in a downwardly directed cylindrical flange 48formed in the cover 46. The tank may be filled with water either by abucket or by a demijohn adapted to be inverted and inserted through theopenings formed by the flanges 41 and 48. When a demijohn is used, agasket 49 may be placed on the cover 46 to cushion the demijohn. Whenthe tank is filled by a bucket or a hose, 9. cover 50 may be substitutedin place of the demijohn'and the gasket 49, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

A faucet 5 I carried by the plate 5 la,connected to the water tank bypipe 5") extending through opening an: extends from the cabinet. Awastewater receptacle 52 may be attached to the cabinet. If desired, thereceptacle 52 may be provided with a cover 53 adapted to have a warningsignal when it has reason of the downwardly extending cavity 54. Thismay be of the character more fully disclosed in the application of J. A.Macrcady for Refrigersltgizrgg apparatus, Serial No. 308,927 died Sept.28,

The detachable shell or outer panel structure of the cabinet may be ofthe character disclosed in the application of J. A. Macready, Serial No.308,- 927 aforesaid. In general, the panel structure may comprise twosimilar front and back panels 55 provided with vertical right angledflanges 56. Two mutually similar side panels 51 may be provided withsubstantially straight edges. The flanges 56 are adapted to fit over thestraight edges 57. Thus by attaching the edges 56 by means of screws 58to the vertical angle irons 40 the panels 51 are held in place on thecabinet. When a door is provided for the zone 23 in the side of thecabinet, one of the panels 51 must be provided with a suitable opening.Thus as shown in Fig. l, a door 59 may be hinged to the cabinet by thehinges 6B and may be locked by the latch (ii. The bottoms of the angleirons 46 may be provided with outwardly extending knobs 62 on which thepanels 55 and 5? rest to position the same with respect to the threadedopenings, not shown, in the angle irons 49 for thereception of screws53. The flange construction of panels 55 and 51 is similar to theconstruction of panels Hi0 and H33 to be described, with the exceptionthat the panels 55 and 57 extend substantially throughout the verticalextent of the cabinet.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the zone 23 may be formed by a second box-likelining having sides it provided with an outwardly directed oilset iiwhich is adapted to receive the lower portion of the water tank formingthe zone 22. A slightly inwardly directed flange opening 72 may beprovided to form a door opening. The flanged opening offset 12 may besecured by nails or the like to another rectangular flange 13 which maybe secured to two vertical angle irons 40 and to a horizontal angle iron'14. This angle iron 14 and three similar ones are adapted to supportthe box-like structure forming the zones 22 and 23 together'with theinsulation 15 of the .section 2i. A wood cushion 74a may be placed onthe angle irons 14 and a metal panel 14b 11 may be placed over theflange 1B and the offset opening portion I2 in order to form a neatappearing door opening.

The refrigerant liquefying unit may be carried by the skeletonframework. Thus the subframework 295 may be suspended from the angleirons 40 by means of hooks 203 and 204 attached to the bolt and nutstructure 206 and 209 which rests on a rubber washer 208 which in 'turnrests on the lugs 201. This suspension structure is provided at each offour comers of the subframe 295., When the liquefying unit is of thecompression type, it may comprise a compressor 230 driven by a motor-231through the medium 'of a belt 299. The compressor 230 deliverscompressed refrigerant to the condenser 23| which .in' turn deliversrefrigerant to the receiver 232. From thence liquefied refrigerant iscarried by become substantially filled by compressor is-controlled by astarting and stopping switch 288 which is conveniently made responsiveto the refrigerant pressure in the return line 284.

The structure is constructed so as to provide a flue so that air willpass into one portion of the casing through the condenser and bedischarged from a remote portion of the casing. To this end the motor281 is provided with a fan 28'! which forces air through the condenser.If the fan is rotated in one direction, air will pass through thecondenser from the right to the left of the casing and will bedischarged at a remote point through the louvres 228 at a point remotein the casing.

The cabinet shown in Fig. 5 may be of a slightly modified characterwherein a door 80 is placed at the front of the cabinet and thereceptaclejl, corresponding to receptacle 82, may be placed to'one sideof the center of the front in order to provide a space for the door 80.The bottle cooling zone of the modification shown in Fig. 5 may be ofthe same vertical and horizontal extent and substantially of similarconstruction as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the only difference beingthat the door opening is at the front of the cabinet instead of at theside.

In Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive, the cabinet shown in Fig. 5 has beenmodifled to the extent that the insulated section 2I is provided with aseparate set of panels from the panels forming the compartment for therefrigerant liquefying unit. Thus an upper front panel 82 is adapted totelescope over a lower front panel 88. A substantially box-like angleiron frame may be formed by the insulated zone and it may comprisecorner vertical angle irons 84 and comer upper horizontal angle irons 88and lower horizontal corner angle irons 86. These angle irons may besecured together by welding and may be reenforced," if desired, bygussets 81. At the front of the cabinet, a wooden frame may be placed inorder to provide a door jamb for the door open-' ing of the cabinet. Anupper horizontal wooden member 88 may span the front angle irons 84. Alower horizontal wooden piece 89 may be joined to the upper piece 88 bymeans of vertical wood members 80 and SI. These wood members may besuitably dovetailed as shown-in the drawings. 'Members SI and 88 mayhave suitable notches 82 and 88 formed in them in order to receivetheangle irons 8,4 and 88 and the gusset 81 and to provide a surface flushwith the angle irons. The faucet from the water cooling zone may passthrough the opening 04. The door may be built around the opening formedby the wooden framework in a manner similar to that shown in Fig 2, byproviding a corresponding offset door opening 85 in the bottle coolingcompartment and by providing a corresponding flange 96 in the frontpanel IOI. Suitable finishing strips 81 of wood or thelike may besecured in this door opening. The evaporator 25 may be of the samecharacter as that disclosed in the description relative to Figs. 1 to 5.

The compartment 80a. shown in Fig. 9 may be formed by a substantiallybox-like angle iron frame having vertical corner angle iron members 88joined by horizontal upper and lower corner angle irons 88. Thechannel-shaped outer panels I00 and 82 may be'provided with verticalflanges I02. These flanges are adapted to be secured to the angle irons84' by screws 58a similar to screws 88. The side panels I08 are adaptedto by 11 inches horizontally.

be secured between the flanges I02 and the angle irons 88 in a mannersimilar to that disclosed in the description of the panel structureshown in Figs. 1 to 4. The panels I00, 82 and I08 are adapted to have aslightly greater horizontal extent than the lower panels 88 and I08. Thefront and back lower panels 88 may be provided with vertical flangesI08. The flanges I08 are adapted to be secured to the vertical angleirons 88 by screws 58a and are adapted to secure therebetween the sidelower panels I08. The upper boxlike frame may, if desired, be slightlylarger than the lower box-like frame, thus permitting the upper panelsto telescope more easily over the lower panels as shown in Figs. 9, 11and 12.

The water tank and the box forming the zone 28 may be made of porcelainenameled sheet metal or tinned copper. The insulation may be corkboardor rock-cork which may be attached to these linings by means of abituminous cement.

If desired, a substantially rectangular wooden frame IIO may be placedin any or all of the cabinets herein disclosed. The rectangular frame II0 is adapted to flt around the outer per-'25 tion of the evaporator 25.A removable insulation III which may be corkboard, rock-board, balsamwood or the like, may be placed within the frame H0 and this may beremoved in order to have access to the flttings II2 of evaporator 80 25.A suitable drain opening and drain plug I I8 may be placed in the bottomof the water tank if desired.

The outer panels may be covered by any suitable material, such asporcelain enamel or lac- 85 quer of the type known in the trade as Duco.Merely by way of example. the water tank or zone 22 may be about 10inches deep and 9 by 11 inches in horizontal dimensions. The evaporator25 may be chrome plated on the exterior, and the boiler proper may be 5inches in diameter and 10 inches long, when using SO: under evaporatingpressures between two and 12 pounds. The zone 28 may be about 10 incheshigh and 9 The heat transferring capacity of the partition between thetwo zones 22 and 28 when constructed as herein disclosed is sufficientto maintain substantially equal temperatures in said zones within therange herein specified. Thus the heat transferring capacity of thepartition together with the fluids in contact therewith is sufficient totransfer indirectly to the refrigerant all of the heat leakage into thezone 28 sufficiently rapidly to maintain the desired temperatures.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of co the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A'mechanical water cooler .of the type used principally for coolingwater on draft comprising substantially straight upright cabinet, havingan insulated section extending substantially across said cabinet, aportion of said cabinet forming a water cooling zone extendingsubstantially across said section, a portion of said cabinet forming abottle cooling zone extending substantially across said section belowsaid water cooling zone, a heat conductingpartition between said zonesof sufficient heat transferring capacity with the fluids in contacttherewith to maintain said zones at substantially the same temperature,means for introducing water in liquid form into said water cooling zonewithout removing elements forming said water cooling zone, means forremoving cooled water from said water cooling zone without removingelements forming said water cooling zone, and an automatic mechanicalrefrigerating system having a float valve controlled.

evaporator in thermal contact with said section to maintain said zonesat temperatures to render liquids palatable.

2. A mechanical water cooler of the type used principally for coolingwater on draft comprising a substantially straight uprightcabinet-having an insulated section extending substantially across saidcabinet, a portion of said cabinet forming a water cooling zoneextending substantially across said section, a portion of said cabinetforming a bottle cooling zone, said zones extending substantially acrosssaid insulated section, a heat conducting partition between said zonesof sufllcient heat transferring capacity with the fluids in contacttherewith to maintain said zones at substantially the same temperature,means for introducing water in liquid form into said water cooling zonewithout removing ele- 1 principally for cooling water on draftcomprisinga cabinet provided with an insulated water compartment zoneand. an insulated bottle compartment zone adjacent said watercompartment zone, said zones extending substantially across saidcabinet, means for introducing water in liquid form into said watercooling zone 'without remov-' ing elements forming said water coolingzone, means for removing cooled water from said water cooling zonewithout removing elements forming said water cooling zone, a heatconducting partition between said compartment zones, and a float valvecontrolled cooling unit in said water compartment zone.

4. A mechanical water .cooler of the type used principally for coolingwater on draft comprising a cabinet provided with an insulated wateroompartment zone and an insulated bottle compartment zone, said zonesextending substantially across said cabinet, means for introducing waterin liquid form into said water coolingzone without removing elementsforming said water cooling zone, means for removing cooled water fromsaid water cooling zone without removing elements forming said watercooling zone, a float valve controlled refrigerant unit in one of saidcompartments, and a partition between the water compartment zone and thebottle compartment zone permitting thermal exchange 'betweensaidcompartment zones. v

5. A mechanical water cooler of the type used principally for coolingwater on draft comprising a cabinet having an insulatedsectioncomprising an insulated open-top water tank, an insulated, box-like,open-topped bottle compartment covered by the bottom of said tank, andan evaporator in said water tank.

6. A mechanical water cooler of the type used principally for coolingwater on draft comprising a cabinet having an nsulated sectioncomprising aninsulated open-top water tank, an insulated, box-like,open-topped bottle compartment'covered by the bottom of said tank, and a5 substantially cylindrical, float valve controlled evaporator in saidwater tank, 7. In a liquid cooling apparatus, a frame, an evaporator anda refrigerating unit mounted on said frame, and a detachable casing forsaidlo frame, refrigerating unit and evaporator. 8. In a liquid coolingapparatus, a skeleton frame having mounted thereon a refrigeratingapparatus, and a detachable shell enclosing said skeleton frame. J l5 9.A device of the class described, comprising a frame structure, anevaporator supported by said frame structure, a refrigerating unit forcooling said evaporator, a jacket of insulation around the evaporatorand adetachable shell enelosing the frame structure, refrigerating unitand evaporator. 10. In a liquid cooling apparatus, a skeleton framehaving mounted thereon a refrigerating apparatus, and a detachable shellenclosing said skeleton frame, said casing having an opening in itsfront and a faucet permitting the. discharge of liquid therethrough.

11. In a. liquid cooling apparatus, a frame,

. an evaporator and a refrigerating unit mounted on said frame, and 'adetachable casing for said frame, refrigerating unit and evaporator,said apparatus having a plurality of sides, and said detachable casingincluding a plate on one side of said apparatus having a relativelystraight edge at a comer of said apparatus and another plate on anotherside of saidapparatus and having an edge bent over said corner of saidappara us.

12. In a liquid cooling apparatus, a framed) an evaporator and arefrigerating unit mounted on said frame, and a detachable caslngforsaid frame, refrigerating unit and evaporator, said apparatus having, apluralityof sides, and said detachable casing including a plate on oneside of said apparatus having a relatively straight edge at a corner ofsaid apparatus and another plate 'on another side, of said apparatusand-having an edge bent over said corner of said apparatus, one

of said edges overlapping the other of said edges 13. In a liquidcooling apparatus, a frame, an evaporator and a refrigerating unitmounted on said frame, and a detachable casing for said frame,refrigerating unit and evaporator, said apparatus having four sides,saiddetachable casing including two plates ontwosides of said apparatusrespectively having relatively straight edges at corners of saidapparatus and two other plates. having edges bentover said corners ofsaid apparatus. '00 14. In. a liquid cooling app ratus, a frame,anevaporator-and a refrigerating unit mounted on said frame, and adetachable casing for said frame, refrigerating unit and evaporatorysaidapparatus having four sides, said detachable cases ing including twoplates on two sides of said apparatus respectively-having relativelystraight edges at corners of said apparatus and two other plates havingedges bent over said corners of said apparatus, said last named edgesbeing in over- 7o,

lapping relation with said first named edges.

. j JOHN A. MACREADY, I

CERTIFICATE or coRREc'rIoN, 5

Patent No. 2,024,297. December 17,- 1935.

mm. manner.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,first column, after line 51, insert the following:

Figure 15 is a. view in crosssection of a portion of the cabinetshowing; in

particular, the mounting of the motor-compressor-condenser within themachine compartment. and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this correction therein that the same may conform to the record ofthe case in the Patent Office,

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of March, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

